You’re thinking of George Smith, who scored all 5 in this game:
On this day (June 16) in 1947 the Western Mail carried this match report of Manchester City’s 5-0 victory over Newport County, which was played on June 14. The game was remarkable for a numbe…
gjfootballarchive.com
Most assume he had one hand as he used to have one hidden in a sleeve, or for team photos, hidden behind him. In fact quite a few have written stories of him ‘losing a hand in the war’ but he did have two. However, one arm was permanently rigid with his hand in a clasping position.
During WW2 he was the victim of friendly fire. A bullet fired from a South African Air Force plane (they thought they were firing at Germans) hit him and entered his arm roughly where his elbow was. It travelled down his arm and came out near his wrist.
I interviewed him in 2003 and saw the scars - you could still see the path the bullet had travelled in his arm.
He‘d already been a City striker before being called up for war service but when he returned City insisted he did a trial as they didn’t think he’d be up to playing. He pointed out that he was a goal scorer with his feet and head, not his arm!
He was told to cover his hand during games with bandages or a sleeve and not to talk about it, hence the belief he’d lost his hand.
The UK Govt insisted he kept quiet about the specifics of what happened, especially the ‘friendly fire’ stuff. The suggestion was that any future war pension might not be paid!
When he spoke with me in 2003 it was the first time, other than family and close friends, that the full story was told.
He should’ve played for England. The selectors came to Maine Rd (mentioned in a match programme that they were there to select Smith) but once they realised about his rigid arm/hand they decided not to pick him. They didn’t want any negative wartime story.
All sad and typical of that era sadly.
www.theguardian.com
